Napoleon Lecture

On the 16^th March Professor David Andress, gave an excellent lecture on debating Napoleon’s megalomaniac or genius-like characteristics. All the Upper and Lower Sixth Historians came along to hear him provide evidence for both cases.

He conceded that Napoleon’s genius was evident in many areas initially. He was a master of detail, the architect of social peace, brought about stable government, religious harmony, national glory, and a meritocracy. However, Prof Andress countered this rapidly. He focused on Napoleon's arrogance and tyrannical qualities, and how this made France more authoritarian and secretive. Decisions such as reintroducing slavery to the West Indies, the oppression of his satellite states, placing his family on numerous European thrones, his obsession with constantly being at war and expanding his empire, his cavalier attitude to human life etc…

Andress ended by damning Napoleon and stated that he was not superhuman, he just thought he was. 

Thank you to Professor Andress for a fascinating and insightful lecture.